Venezuela

American  

[ven-uh-zwey-luh, ve-ne-swe-lah] / ˌvɛn əˈzweɪ lə, ˌvɛ nɛˈswɛ lɑ /

noun

1. a republic in northern South America. 352,143 sq. mi. (912,050 sq. km). Caracas.

2. Also called Maracaibo.  Gulf of Venezuela. a gulf of the Caribbean Sea between northwestern Venezuela and northern Colombia, connecting with Lake Maracaibo. 75 miles (120 km) long and up to 150 miles (240 km) wide.

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Venezuela British  

/ ˌvɛnɪˈzweɪlə /

noun

1. Official name: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.  a republic in South America, on the Caribbean: colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century; independence from Spain declared in 1811 and won in 1819 after a war led by Simón Bolívar. It contains Lake Maracaibo and the northernmost chains of the Andes in the northwest, the Orinoco basin in the central part, and the Guiana Highlands in the south. Exports: petroleum, iron ore, and coffee. Official language: Spanish. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: bolívar. Capital: Caracas. Pop: 28 459 085 (2013 est). Area: 912 050 sq km (352 142 sq miles)

2. an inlet of the Caribbean in NW Venezuela: continues south as Lake Maracaibo

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Venezuela Cultural  

1. Republic in northern South America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the southwest and west. Its capital and largest city is Caracas.

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Discover More

Venezuela became independent from Spain in 1821.

Venezuela is rich in oil, which accounts for about ninety percent of its export income. Because of its revenue from oil, Venezuela has the highest per capita national income in Latin America. It was a founder of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Venezuela

Pacific Coast is little known outside the oil industry and is attempting its first entrance into Venezuela.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Pirela came to the United States from his native Venezuela in September 2014 and that his permission to remain expired Feb. 10, 2018.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Pirela was signed by the Rangers at age 17 out of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and played catcher, first base and the outfield from 2009-2011 for the team’s Dominican Republic Summer League affiliate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

The EIA showed a surprise — and major — build in U.S. commercial inventories of oil, thanks to fewer crude exports and a jump in imports, mostly from Venezuela.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026

Similarly, the World Health Organization, spraying in Venezuela, is reported to have reduced cats to the status of a rare animal.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson